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 Pardes
~ Paradise
A Journey into the 4 Levels of Biblical Understanding
by Eighth Day Assembly
What is Pardes? Pardes [H6508] is a Hebrew
word used in the Bible that means a forest, orchard, or park, and is referred to as Paradise. It corresponds with
the Greek word paradeisos [G3857], which also means a park, Eden, or Paradise.
In Hebrew, Pardes is spelled, PRDS which is also an acronym for the Hebrew words Pshat, Remez, Derasha, Sod. Each
word represents a different level of understanding the scriptures. Each level of understanding becomes deeper as
revealed in the iceberg picture (upper right).
The journey into Pardes also represents our journey into deeper levels of intimacy with God our Father. It represents
our journey into the relationship we once had in the Garden of Eden, hence the word Pardes ~ Paradise. (When finished
here, please see our article on 4 Entered the Garden -
a story from the Jewish Talmud on the dangers of the journey into Pardes.)
The four levels of Biblical understanding
are:
P [Pshat] - literal, simple - BREADTH
R [Remez] - parable, allegory - LENGTH
D [Derasha] - seek, search - DEPTH
S [Sod] - inner, mystical - HEIGHT |
DIMENSIONS
Jewish mysticism teaches us that the four levels of
Biblical understanding are actually dimensions of meaning or interpretation. These dimensions as seen in the New
Testament are the measurements of BREADTH, LENGTH, DEPTH, and HEIGHT, as revealed in Ephesians 3:18........
Ephesians 3:17-19
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
In verse 18, the word comprehend [G2638/ G2596/ G2983] means to find, obtain, or perceive "down" in opposition,
position or intensity. It's to seek, search out, look at, and obtain what is beneath the surface of the
scriptures, as in the iceberg.
The apostle Paul was encouraging every one of us to
come to know by seeking out for our own possession, what is the breadth, length, depth, and height. He was encouraging
us to take the journey into Pardes!
We see these four dimensions being used by Jesus Christ during his Ministry. In Pshat (literal), it's interesting
that he never used this level to teach the masses. He only expressed literal interpretation of the scriptures when
addressing the Pharisees. In Remez (parable, allegory), this is the level he used to begin teaching the masses.
In Derasha (seek, search), from among the masses, he chose his 12 apostles to reveal to them the deeper understanding
of the parable or allegory. In Sod (inner mystical), he chose 3 from among his apostles, and revealed to them the
inner mystical truth of himself on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Likewise, to this day, the Holy Spirit is teaching us and leading us in the same manner!
THE JOURNEY
Each letter in the acronym is a new dimension of Biblical
understanding of the scriptures, however, exploration into all four dimensions leads to direct, face to face communion with the presence of God, Himself, as was experienced in the first Paradise, the Garden of Eden!
Old Testament and New Testament Champions of the Quest (seekers) understand from the beginning this journey is
much, much more than just a journey into knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Anyone can get knowledge........
It is, in fact, a journey into a relationship, or should it be said, return to a relationship.
After the fall and before Jesus Christ, God our Father
introduced the Tabernacle and the Temple to his people as the center, or meeting place for their relationship.
However, only one person, the High Priest, was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies, and that only once per
year for the sins of the people. This artificial relationship was very imperfect and did not please God at all.
What he wanted was not sacrifice for sin, but rather a personal relationship with every
single individual, as in Paradise, the Garden of Eden!
In Jesus Christ, his son, this relationship has been restored as it originally existed in the Garden (see our article
on The
Garden, with evidence that the Temple was
indeed the prototype of the Garden of Eden!).
The experience of that relationship is the treasure, the prize of the high calling.....
Phillipians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The ultimate of that relationship is also what is called the "face to face" relationship.....
I Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as
also I am known.
There are many religious even today, as the Pharisees
in Jesus' day, who object to the seeking of a deeper understanding of truth in the scriptures. They perceive there
is only one understanding, therefore, hindering the progression of others. Obviously, this is a grave error in
discernment on their part (see our article on Truth - Like a Diamond in the Sky ).
There is a magnificent quote by Rabbi Samuel Penner.....
| "You and I can measure how far we have come on
our journey by our readiness to reach out to others, to encourage their growth and advance thereby the renewal
of society." |
The Pardes is both process and fulfillment! By opening
lines of communication with the Word of God, one is already on the way to Paradise while yet on earth! This method
of spiritual growth and understanding is probably the most full, comprehensive, and balanced penetration of
the inner Kingdom of God. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, we are better equipped now than ever before
to render fair judgment of this claim!
FOUR LEVELS OF PARDES DEFINED
Before moving on into the individual understanding of
the different dimensions, please keep in mind that within each level are many levels that melt and
blend into one another as they cross over from one level to the next level. There are no set boundaries that say,
this understanding belongs here in this level, or that understanding belongs there in that level.
Ephesians 3:18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
 P
Pshat ~ Breadth
literal, simple
 The first of these levels of understanding the Bible, the Word of
God, is the literal, or simple level. It's the level of interpretation of scripture whereby most who come to the
Word of God for the first time are encouraged to understand. We study the literal history of
the scriptures. We learn about the Bible heroes. We learn about memorization. The purpose of this level is to:
mold, shape, form, or fabricate
which is the definition of the Greek root word for BREADTH
(G4111), in Ephesians 3:18.
It's the beginnings of our understanding in Christ.
It's where we start out our children in Sunday (or Sabbath) school. It's where we start in coming to Christ as
a "little child." This level of understanding is what molds, shapes, and forms our belief system!
It is a very important level, and although the simplest,
it's probably one of the most dangerous in that it molds, shapes, and forms our belief system. A mistake here will
cause many to fall into deep error!
If one starts out in Pshat, one must not stay there
very long.
We are to come to Jesus Christ as a little child (Mark 10:15), but we certainly are not to remain there.....
I Corinthians 13:11-12
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child,
I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even
as also I am known.
In this level of understanding, we come to know the Breadth. However, we are encouraged to move on to the next
level of meaning, and understanding of scripture.....
 R
Remez ~ Length
parable, allegory
 After one has attained basic understanding of Bible history, its
stories, and characters, we move on to the next level of biblical understanding, Remez - parable, allegory, length.
The purpose of this level is to........
make larger (in age), to expand or
make bigger, to make strong
which is the definition of the Greek word for LENGTH
(G3372/G3173), in Ephesians 3:18.
The word parable in the New Testament
is a symbol, or fictitious narrative to be used as a comparison. The purpose of speaking in parables, or symbols,
was to get the people to think! It is the first step into the journey beneath what is literal.
Parables are our first lessons in symbolism, and teaches
us to make comparisons! These comparisons exercise the mind to think. What it does is take something spiritual,
and frames it in a literal story. What the people must do is think about what is literal, then convert it to its
spiritual counterpart.
This comparison thinking then opens up the mind to allegory,
which is the next step on this level of understanding. Allegory is a little different than parable. Where parable
takes what is spiritual and makes it literal, allegory takes what is literal and makes it spiritual!
We see allegory at work where the apostle Paul said.....
Galatians 4:22-26
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two
sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth
to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her
children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
In the above allegory, God took literal events and characters
such as Abraham and Agar, and used those literal persons and literal events to represent a spiritual understanding
that is not literal! Therefore, would it then be wrong to say that the literal Isaac and Ishmael actually
represent two covenants, and that the literal Jerusalem represents the mother of us all?
Which interpretation is correct? The answer is that both are correct, the one story, although different, does not cancel
out the other, but rather expands the other!
And, the greatest of all allegories to understand are these........
Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
What this is saying is that absolutely everything that is physical (literal) can be used to understand what is
spiritual, even God's eternal power and Godhead!!! That is a very big statement, because everything physical would
include the study of Mathematics, Science, Physics, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Astronomy, Architecture,
Art, Engineering, and on, and on, and on......
The study of all of these different aspects of what
is "literal" and using them to understand what is spiritual is a great, great task, and brings balance
to both mind and spirit! When one begins to look at a sunset, or a painting, or a mathematical equation, or the
human mind, and understand its spiritual implication, it deepens the relationship one has with the Father, and
all of a sudden, everything becomes filled with the expression of God! This truth deepens one's relationship with
God by expanding one's vision, and to expand one's vision regarding comparisons is also to learn spiritual discernment.
Thus far, we have comprehended the Breadth, and now the Length, but the end of it is not yet. We are encouraged
to move on even further into comprehension of what is the Depth.........
 D
Derasha ~ Depth
to seek, to search, to explore
Now that one has matured and expanded one's mind (in Remez) to understand
the principles of parable and allegory, and is able to discern what is literal, what is spiritual, what is parable,
and what is allegory, he is now mature enough to further expand his horizons. The purpose of this level is to.....
seek and search out the deep and profound
mysteries
which is the definition of the Greek word for DEPTH
(G899/G901/G939), in Ephesians 3:18, and whose numeric value is 282, this Ministry's most favorite mystical number!
This level of understanding of the scriptures is where most people who are unschooled start to get nervous, because
it ventures into realms that are not literal, not parable, and not allegory. It goes even deeper than that. It's
peering into the very core and nature of the individual words of the Bible by going back into the original languages, and other
texts for the purpose of discovering and understanding intent and ideas.
It is not enough to read the Bible literally (first dimension) or allegorically (second dimension). We are challenged
to search out the fullest intent of the divine Word of God. In addition to seeking and searching
out intent, we are also seeking and searching out ideas!
One example of many examples is the study of Jewish Mysticism, which starts out by teaching us that the letters
of the Hebrew alphabet are not just letters, but actually living, creative powers! (Read the Jewish
Book
of Formation, Sefer Yetzirah and the......
32
Paths of Wisdom, ), which also opens the
door to the numeric cyphering of Biblical words.
This level of study is not limited to just Jewish Mysticism, there are many, many other tools, texts, and disciplines
we have at our disposal as well.
Many Christians are afraid to look at other texts other than the Bible, because they have been taught it is wrong,
and taught that no other text is inspired. While it is true that this level of understanding is only for the spiritually
mature (in Judaism it's only for those over 40 years of age), it is a great error in discernment to suggest that
one should "never" study other avenues of thought. Because of the statement in Romans 1:20, above (in
Remez), all texts are inspired if
what you are looking for in them, is God
!
We are not to be afraid of reading or studying other texts. We are supposed to have developed in Pshat and Remez,
the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to look at any text, and perceive what is or isn't! That is the freedom
that comes with maturity.
Many do not attain to this level, because the study
is very intense, and many just do not have the desire, focus, or stamina to do it. They would rather "keep
it simple," which is perfectly okay to do, if that is what satisfies. However, for Champions of the Quest,
keeping it simple is just not in the vocabulary!
Many may say to themselves, "Why does anyone want to look so deeply into the scriptures?" Only a Derasha
level seeker could answer that question - Why? because we have to. It's a love and passion! It's like the old question,
"Why does anyone want to climb a mountain or go into outer space?" The answer always comes back, "Because
it's there!" It's in our nature to explore. Likewise, many of us are seekers and Champions of the Quest. It
is more than just wanting to know, it is wanting to experience that relationship.
There are some who have added yet another, separate level of understanding between this one and Sod, called GEMATRIA,
but this Ministry feels that numeric cyphering is also a part of this level in Derasha. You can judge for yourself!
As was said in the beginning, within each level are many levels that melt and blend into one another as they move
from one level to the next. There are no set boundaries that say, this understanding belongs here in this level,
or that understanding belongs there in that level.
This now leads us to the final level of understanding the scriptures. Thus far, we've comprehended the Breadth,
the Length, and the Depth. Now it's time to move on to the Height........
 S
Sod ~ Height
inner, mystical
This level of understanding is what this Ministry calls the Eighth
Day Assembly, our namesake (see article on the, Eighth Day Sabbath), which incorporates internalization of scripture! The purpose of this level is to........
cross over, lift up, elevate to the
sky
which is the definition of the Greek word for HEIGHT
(G5311/G5228), in Ephesians 3:18.
There are many who believe that the Eighth Day speaks of a future time in the millennium. This Ministry does not.
We believe this level of understanding can be experienced today, in the here and now, on a daily
basis! It is a day that began at the resurrection of Jesus Christ and will continue until the final consummation.
Please read the following text taken from our article on the Eighth Day Sabbath........
"Thus, the enclosure of the Eighth Day speaks of the
revelation revealed only through intimacy and usually of a private nature. In this intimacy, what is revealed is
not the revelation of the natural world, but rather the revelation of the world to come.
Therefore, the Eighth Day is very special unto God. It symbolizes one's removal from the ways, struggles, and doctrines
of the material world, and encloses one into the intimacy and protection of the bride chamber prepared by Christ
Himself where the Bride and the Bridegroom experience the 'face-to-face' relationship, above the earthly realm.
A day that is not counted among earthly days. In that sense, it is a 'hidden' day. Not having place within the
boundaries of the earthly 7 days, it is not something you see, but rather something you experience.
And in Christ, it can be experienced daily, not just on Saturday or Sunday." |
Likewise, the interpretation and understanding of the
scriptures takes on the same nature and character as that intimate, personal relationship. What happens is that
the scriptures become internalized! They are not literal, they are not parable, they are not "out
there" in the getting of knowledge from other sources, they are here, inside
each and every one of us! Indeed, the Kingdom of God is within us! It's the revelation of who we are in Christ, ".....but then shall I know even as also I am known." (I Corinthians 13:12)!
As an example, instead of perceiving the Canaanite tribes as actual, literal tribes that inhabited Israel (which
they were), each Canaanite tribe represents facets of our own, personal, negative personality, to this day! (see
article on the Land
of Canaan.)
Ultimately, things like the creation of the universe,
Adam, Eve, the Serpent, (see article on the identity of The Serpent), Israel, Old Testament, New Testament, the Book of Revelation,
Jewish Mysticism, angels, all knowledge, all revelation, all faith, becomes revealed not in our literal ideas of
heaven and earth, but rather, hidden deep within each and every one of us. What is macrocosm becomes a microcosm
within us, in our own hearts, in our own personalities, in our own motives, in our own thoughts, in our own ideas.
Which directly is the cause and effect of our own reality on this earth!
Some may think that if the scriptures are internalized,
it takes away from the literal, the parable, and the study. This is absolutely not so! The ultimate example is
Jesus Christ himself!
Jesus chose Peter, James, and John from among his disciples,
and took them to the Mount (symbol of Sod - height), and had them to witness his Transfiguration! The apostles
did not understand what they saw. They did not realize they were witnessing Jesus Christ internalizing or transfiguring the Word, the scriptures (himself), to reflect in himself both
Moses - the Law, and Elijah - the Prophets!
Once scripture has been internalized as Jesus' example on the Mount of Transfiguration, we begin to realize none
of this has anything to do with what is out
there, and that it's all in here.
God is then able to meet us face to face right where we are in Christ.
When identity has been both realized and enjoined, there
is yet one last facet of understanding within Sod. It is an experience beyond understanding because of the magnitude
of the internalization.
It's a level this Ministry feels we are unable to seek,
search out, or teach in the physical sense. A level in which one is caught-away by God Himself. A level apparently
where understanding is not a requirement for this experience, but what is required is the relationship.
There have been a few examples that have experienced this invitation. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for
God took him (Genesis 5:24), Elijah, the prophets, and also one revealed by the apostle Paul........
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body,
I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
The man spoken of by Paul who was caught-up into paradise saw and heard things he was not allowed to utter, therefore,
the person did come back to this reality as did the prophets, so we know it is a level of intimacy experienced
in the here and now, yet speaks of a time yet to come. Because of the nature of the event, it would be very difficult
to tell anyone of the experience, because the experience is wholly individual, personal, and could be greatly misunderstood.
Some are allowed to tell, others are not.
Therefore, whether we are allowed to tell, or not to tell, this ultimate, intimate experience actually brings us
full circle........
That full circle, or in other words, FOURSQUARE, is the........
Breadth, Length, Depth, and Height
which is the time, the place, and the space in which
we are to meet with God our Father, as in the Garden of Eden (see article on The Garden). Pardes ~ this is the place hedged about by Grace into which is poured all the "fullness
of God." The fullness of God being that treasure that lies deep within. Those of us Champions of the Quest
who find ourselves seeking and searching for something other than the fullness of God (which most of us do a few
times around) are destined to wander in circles round, and round again.
| Our journey is not so that we can get to know as much as
we can know. It is rather to lead us to that place of forgiveness within ourselves, called the Love of Christ, our Rest, our Peace,
our Eighth Day Sabbath. That place prepared for us by Jesus Christ that passes knowledge, which end is to be filled
with all the fulness of God! |
Ephesians 3:19
And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
The fullness of God is the ultimate treasure of the Champions of the Quest. It's the Holy Grail, the prize, the
purpose, and the high calling! Let us all be vigilant as we press toward that mark.
May God Bless you in your great journey on
the Road to Zion !
Amen!
It is helpful to know that there are many other aspects
to each level of understanding that are not mentioned here. It is our challenge that "whosoever will,"
will come to know and understand all of those different aspects.
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